Don't we all love the sound of the birds chirping in the morning? But not all birds emit a pleasant sound.

Some homeowners would prefer the din of a beeping alarm clock rather than waking up to the constant hammering of a woodpecker. Though woodpeckers are fascinating birds, at times they can be annoying.

They can cause structural damage to buildings by pecking on siding, chimneys or eaves, and incidences of woodpecker damage are prominent in fall and spring.

There are a couple of reasons why this uninvited bird is attracted to your house.

A male woodpecker engages in a territorial hammering activity to attract a mate, and it chooses a structure that makes a better sound to achieve this. Drain spouts, wood siding made from cedar or redwood, and plywood siding containing tunnels are attractive structures to woodpeckers to make their drumming noise.

Woodpeckers also have a keen sense for hunting insects and larvae hiding under wood siding. A series of woodpecker holes is often a telltale sign of their search for insects under wood siding. Check the siding for signs of insects and take appropriate measures (insecticides, wood preservatives) to get rid of the insects.

A red-bellied woodpecker feeds on a suet feeder outside Bob and Jane Kuhn's kitchen window. Its name is somewhat misleading, as the most prominent red part of its plumage is on the head. The red-headed woodpecker, however, is another species that is a rather close relative but looks quite different.
Submitted by Bob Kuhn

The picture of this large pileated woodpecker by John Posewitz was taken in his backyard at the south edge of the City of Sheboygan and Town of Wilson. The bird, which is the size of a small crow, enjoys a mature forest area to survive.
Submitted photo

Marilynn Dudovick shared this close-up photo of a red-headed woodpecker taken through her kitchen window in 2013. “I put suet on my window sill,” she said. “It’s right out my kitchen window, so I see a lot of birds coming and going.”
Submitted photo

A downy woodpecker visits a feeder at Mosquito Hill Nature Center. Mosquito Hill and museum staff assisted the parks and recreation department with New London's Bird City Wisconsin application. The city is one of 15 in the state that received this new award. Dec. 2010.
Photo courtesy of Mary Swifka

The stark contrast of the hood crest of a woodpecker against freshly fallen snow in 2012 attracted Frank Kolczak to snap this photo, commenting "This pileated woodpecker is a frequent visitor to my suet feeder and is one of my favorite birds.''
Submitted by Frank Kolczak

According to Dr. Scott Craven, UW-Extension Wildlife Ecologist, the key to successful control is to take action as soon as a woodpecker shows signs of becoming a pest. It is much harder to deter the bird if it is established to the site, so take action immediately when you start noticing damage to your home.

Use a combination of strategies listed below to deter woodpeckers.

Loud noises can easily frighten the woodpecker; banging pots and pans or yelling can discourage their presence. However, you have to be persistent for at least a week.

If you don't have time to be persistent in making loud noises, install a motion sensor light that triggers blinking lights when a woodpecker approaches the damaged area.

Frequently damaged sections of the wood siding can be protected by mounting metallic hardware cloth or by draping bird netting over the area being targeted.

Other frightening devices that can be used are cosmetic mirrors that enlarge images, or hanging a few effigies of winged hawks (can be constructed from cardboard). Rubber snakes, owl decoys, or balloons painted with large eyes can be placed near the damaged areas, also.

Hang shiny objects like aluminum foil, pinwheels, or mylar strips near the damaged area where free movement of these objects due to wind can scare the woodpecker.

Smooth out any grooves on the siding or caulk any cracks to prevent woodpeckers from using them as a foothold to hammer the building.

Sticky repellents like Tanglefoot can be smeared on another piece of wood, plywood or thick cardboard and mounted temporarily over the damaged area. Birds dislike sticky feet and this can be an effective way to repel them.